For many companies, a business systems analyst holds the ability to guide the way toward tremendous success by transforming operations in a way that boosts productivity and profitability. In fact, there are many advantages to hiring a business systems analyst. With a unique blend of technical expertise, business savvy, and strategic know-how, this is an expert who can oversee, refine and develop new processes in an effort to streamline operations and boost ROI.
What Does a Business Systems Analyst Do?
The role of a business systems analyst varies slightly from industry to industry, but in a more general, overarching sense, their mission remains the same: to analyze a company’s operations and develop methods for improving efficiency and productivity. A business systems analyst will also serve as a liaison of sorts between the corporate side of a company and external parties (such as contractors or service providers) as they seek to streamline operations.
In the course of their work, a systems analyst may analyze a process and the company’s current requirements surrounding that process. They will consider cost, the technology that is in use, and the efficiency of the existing workflows and protocols. Then, they will devise a strategy for improvement, including a plan for implementing that change. If a third-party service provider is identified as a good solution to a problem, the systems analyst will then shift into a liaison role as they help select a service provider and oversee their work.
Business Systems Analysts and ERP Solutions
A business systems analyst will prove to be an especially valuable team member for your company when it comes to the realm of enterprise software. Enterprise resource planning software holds the power to transform an organization’s operations in some dramatic ways and a systems analyst can be your greatest ally as you strive to implement a new ERP platform or refine your existing interface.
With a unique blend of technical expertise and business savvy, a systems analyst is perfectly positioned to evaluate your operational needs as an organization. With these findings in mind, they can examine your enterprise software systems to identify opportunities for improvement and advancement. If you are still using multiple disparate, stand-alone enterprise software systems, your business systems analyst can help guide your transition to a centralized ERP platform.
The right enterprise software can make all the difference for a company and ERP systems are designed for customization. But the ideal configuration for these massive software platforms is not always apparent, particularly if you are working with an ERP implementation firm that is not overly familiar with your organization and its unique quirks. In these cases, your business systems analyst can offer valuable insights that will maximize your chances of landing on the perfect ERP configuration right out of the starting gate.
Streamlining Operations, Processes, Protocols, and Workflows
As you are refining your current ERP platform or implementing an entirely new enterprise software platform, you will probably discover a slew of inefficiencies. At a minimum, your systems analyst will almost certainly discover multiple opportunities to simplify, improve and streamline various processes and workflows. An ERP implementation offers a great opportunity to identify more productive workflows, but these improvements can be pursued at any time with the help of an experienced business systems analyst.
Your systems analyst will examine factors such as current process, cost, objective, challenges, and so forth. Then, they will develop a new process or workflow that maximizes productivity and profits, ideally bringing a strategic advantage in the process. That’s just one example of how this kind of analyst can bring a major benefit to your business.
By hiring a business systems analyst, you will have someone who is consistently looking for opportunities for advancement and improvement. This can be downright transformative for a company because these opportunities are often overlooked amidst the hustle and bustle of everyday life. You will be better positioned to seize upon those time-sensitive opportunities that would otherwise pass you by, giving you a competitive advantage in what has turned into a hyper-competitive business world.
What Skills Does a Top Business Systems Analyst Have?
You’re now confident that a systems analyst can benefit your business, but how do you suss out who’s the best for your company? The top business systems analysts are experts in business and operational strategies. Yet they also have a great deal of expertise in the technical realm, with the knowledge required to leverage technology in a strategic manner.
A top systems analyst will bring a very diverse and unique skill set to the table, including the following.
- Extensive knowledge of the latest emerging technologies.
- Broad knowledge surrounding enterprise software and hardware.
- Proficiency in development and programming.
- They’re fast learners with a hunger to discover new things.
- Strong communication skills, interpersonal skills, and the ability to guide/teach others.
- Good teamwork and leadership skills.
- Highly-refined analytical and problem-solving skills.
- Extensive knowledge of business strategy.
- Industry-specific expertise with a good handle on industry-specific challenges and pain points.
The top business systems analysts will possess all of these skills and traits. It is these same individuals who can bring the greatest benefit to an organization.
Whenever possible, seek a professional who has worked in your business sector or industry because this niche-specific experience can bring lots of unique and valuable insights. This industry knowledge will also prove extremely useful if you are in a position where you are implementing a new ERP platform or reconfiguring your existing enterprise software systems.
At Cox-Little, we understand how complex ERP implementation projects can be and we are well-versed on what it takes to develop a solution that will reflect your processes and business objectives. Our talented tech professionals will work with your business systems analyst and other team members to bring your ERP implementation (or ERP overhaul) to the finish line, all while minimizing stress and maximizing ROI. We invite you to contact Cox-Little today to discuss your business strategy and our team will help guide you toward success.
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